Reserve League Recap: Chivas USA 2, Quakes 3

CARSON, Calif - The Earthquakes defeated Chivas USA in Reserve League play at the StubHub Center’s Track and Field Stadium. Although the Goats claimed the lead twice on the Quakes, but the Quakes responded with a pair of equalizers by Mike Fucito and an own-goal from Chivas.

The Red-and-White took the early lead off a set piece in the third minute. Rivera played a ball in from the right side which Fondy drilled into the back of the net with a header to record his first goal with Chivas since joining the club in August.

The Quakes responded in the 11th minute when Fucito worked the ball inside the left side of the box and fired inside the near post. Red-and-White goalkeeper Patrick McLain got a hand on the ball but could not prevent it from bouncing in to even the score at 1-1.

San Jose nearly went up a goal in the 22nd minute when Sam Garza found himself with space inside the box and got off a strike in a one-on-one meeting with McLain, but the keeper stood his ground and deflected the shot. The Quakes again knocked on the goal’s door two minutes later on a cross from the left side of the box from Lee Cook to a cutting Fred Braun, but the midfielder pushed his tap-in attempt wide left.

The Rojiblancos reclaimed the lead a minute into the second half on Rivera’s chip shot over San Jose keeper David Bingham. Rivera worked the ball into the left side of the box and saw that Bingham had come off his line, which the midfielder capitalized on by placing his score into the side netting toward the far post.

Playing a goal down, the Quakes came back with two unanswered scores beginning in the 51st minute when Chivas knocked in an own-goal on Fucito’s cross from the left wing into the box intended for Adam Jahn. The visiting side then recorded the eventual game-winner in the 65th minute when Vanschaik knocked in a deflected ball from inside the area past McLain after the keeper denied Jahn’s initial header near the short area to deliver the 3-2 road result.

The San Jose Earthquakes continue their Reserve League play on October 15, hosting Chivas USA for their final Reserve League match of the season. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. PT at the Earthquakes Training Facility.